Insights
Behind the Holocaust
Mesa State College continues on the cutting edge of academic research
and education through the Wayne N. Aspinall Chair of History, Political
Science, and Public Affairs program. This year's lecturer will not
only bring an interesting body of work to campus, but will challenge
students, faculty, and the public to think beyond images of the Holocaust
created by Hollywood movie makers.
This year's Aspinall Lecturer, Dr. George Browder, will be teaching
two classes on campus this spring discussing the Nazi SS, Gestapo,
and the Holocaust. Though the historical perspective on the Holocaust
is not controversial, Browder attempts to explain how, in historical
context, any of us might have been drawn into the "monstrous
moral failures" of the Third Reich.
Browder admits that his years of research on the subject have been
difficult because he has tried to understand how the Holocaust was
not just "ignorant prejudice", but the slow and carefully
crafted creation of an ideological, scientific, and religious enemy.
He has tried to get into the minds of the Nazi Storm Troopers and
discern their humanity. Understanding that the monstrosity was not
the making of a monstrous group of people, but rather the creation
of 'group-hate' among a group of everyday people. Saying that the
SS and Gestapo are "everyday people" is certain to raise
eyebrows and arguments from many groups, but Browder says the role
of a historian is to remain empathetic while maintaining objectivity.
Browder's belief that the Holocaust could happen again keeps him glued
to the subject. "We must guard against others, but we must also
see how we ourselves solve problems with white-knuckle solutions",
says Browder.
Browder's visit to campus is drawing tremendous interest from students.
Political Science Professor Dr. Michael Gizzi says for the first time
ever, the Aspinall lecture class has been split into two offerings
because of overwhelming response to the course. Instead of the usual
one upper-division course, Browder has agreed to teach two classes
on the Holocaust. In addition, Browder will be doing several public
talks for area service groups as well as a free public lecture on
Tuesday, April 24th starting at 7 pm in Liff Auditorium.
Browder's books include: Hitler's Enforcers: The Gestapo and the SS
Security Service in the Nazi Revolution (1996, Oxford University Press);
The Foundations of the Nazi Police State: The Formation of SIPO and
SD (1990, The University Press of Kentucky); and Ten Years to the
Holocaust: The Judenpolitik of the Gestapo and the SS Security Service,
1932-1942 (not yet published). He also has authored dozens of articles
and essays. He has appeared in the A&E Network biographical series
on Adolf Eichmann, and has served as an expert witness on Nazi atrocities
for the U.S. Justice Department.
For more information on Browder's visit please contact Theresia Holman
in Humanities and Social Sciences at (970) 248-1696.
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